Universities come together to benefit relief

To raise spirits, musicians will perform Sunday in patriotic ‘Salute to America’

Jack Brookshire and Larry Maxey, among many Americans, were heartsick after the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks on Washington, D.C., and New York City. And like many Americans, they wondered what they could do to help.

Then Brookshire, a retired band director and adjunct faculty member at Baker University in Baldwin, had a brainstorm: a patriotic concert to lift people's spirits. Immediately, Maxey, a music professor at Kansas University, jumped on the bandwagon.

"Not everyone can go to New York or fight," Maxey said. "What musicians can do is play their music."

"Salute to America," at 7:30 p.m. Sunday in the Lied Center, will raise money for the American Red Cross relief fund for families of those killed in the attacks. A suggested donation of $3 or more will be taken at the door.

"A small contribution can help a lot of people," Brookshire said. "Our hope is that people will call five to 10 friends, and then they'll call five to 10 friends."

The band is made up of more than 50 music faculty and students from KU, Baker University and Washburn University. A couple of Lawrence high school students also are in the ranks.

The program includes "Ceremony of Allegiance" by John Cacavas; "American Salute" by Morton Gould; "God of Our Fathers," by Claude T. Smith; "Americans We" by Henry Fillmore; "Washington Post" and "The Stars and Stripes Forever," both marches by John Philip Sousa; "Blessed They Are," by Johannes Brahms and arranged by Barbara Buelman; and "America the Beautiful."

Genaro Mendez Jr., a tenor and KU assistant professor of music, will join the band for "The Star-Spangled Banner" and "God Bless America."

"It's fun music and will raise the spirits," Brookshire said.

Conductors are Brookshire; James Barnes, KU music professor; Kirt Saville, director of bands at Washburn; and Ray James, director of bands at Baker. Hank Booth will serve as emcee.